Tablet counting device



M. R. FIELDS TABLET COUNTING DEVICE Nov. 14, 1950 Filed Feb. 22. 1945 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 uur n. raids,

Chicago, Ill., assigner to Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, lll., a corporation of nunon Application February 22, 1945, Serial No. 579,278

l 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a tablet counting device, and it has particularv reference to a device adapted for use by pharmacists in filling prescriptions, which call for a specified number of tablets, pills, or the like, which are usually carried in stock in bulk form.

A common ypractice followed by pharmacists when filling a prescription calling for a specified number of tablets, is to pour an unmeasured quantity of the tablets on a paper, or other clean surface, and to separate from such quantity the required number of tablets by means of a spatula. rated, then they are ordinarily moved over the edge of the table surface on which they were counted, and caught in the hand or other receptacle, from which they may be poured into` another container in which they are to be dispensed tothe customer. l

The containers employed for "dispensing `phar' maceuticals vary considerably, each pharmacist having Ahis own4 selection of various sizes and forms or kindsv of cpntain'ers, such as lhinged or slip cover boxes,v tubular paper board receptacles, glass vials,boitles,'etc.,-etc.4 The selectionpfv a container of the'right size lfor algivenrn'mber After the required number are sepa` of vtablets has heretofore-'been'.a matter of 'guess Work since no standards'are available which in-n dicate the number-of tablets-cfa' given sizeV 'I erroneousvselection" of.a too sma1l container causesvv trouble in that the too small container j proper size of receptacle -in'whieh'to dispense'the device for the'purpo'se indicated', .which will enjcouragethejeitercise of prcperprecautions for 'maintaining sterilitylofth'V product handled, and,

in general, it .i s..th'e object of the invention to provide an improved device vof the character indicated.

A device embodying a selected form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is` a. plan; v

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, certain portions being `broken awayand shown in section; and

Fig'. 3 visa section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

2 'Ihe device shown comprises a main panel or tray-like part I, which is reinforced by means of depending ribs 2 on its bottom and supported on a table surface by suitable legs or feet, such as indicated at 3. In this instance, legs I are ners into which a small tablet or the like can become more or less inaccessible.

At one end of the tray there is provided an arcuate upstanding flange 8 which is similar to the flange E.A The flanges 6 and 8 have adjacent ends curved outwardly, as shown at^"9, to provide' a spout, the tray I being suitably extended to form the bottom'of the spout as shown.

At the other end of the 'tray,'i. e., at the end havirrgsaid semi-cylindrical'part 4, there is provided a shallow upstanding rib IIIv which has its wiper-surface joined to the surface'o'fthe .tray rI I by means of a curved or inclined surface I I, mergwhich canvbe-plac'ed ina given con'tainer..;;lThe 'V 'Jing graduallyrinto the top surface of the tray.

.Said-gradually' merging surface II will permit tabletsorthe'like' to be moved. across the surface of the tray and over the rib Ill into the semicylindrical chamber 4.

A cover is provided for the semi-cylindrical chamber 4, said cover being in the form of a semicylindrical member I2, which is hinged .at one .vide a device whereby the counting out of a.. I

-side as indicated at I3I3 to the wall of the ribl.0, the parts 4 and I2 being so formed as to 'j--cooperate to form a more or less cylindrical receptacle closed by the end closure 5, which is extended upwardly sufficiently for that purpose.

The opposite end of the receptacle forming elements 4 and I2 are provided with tapered spout forming portions I4 and I5 respectively, which cooperate to i'orm a reduced diameter spoilt through which tablets or the like in' the receptacle can be poured into a Vbottle or other container.

The cover I2 is also provided with a series of graduation marks i to Iii inclusive, as shown in Fig. 1, such graduations being `designated by the reference numeral I6. These graduations are designed to indicate to the user of the device thev proper size of container in which the combined tablets should be packaged. e

A pharmacist uses the described device in the following manner: An unmeasured quantity of tablets is poured from a bulk container on to the tray I. With a suitable instrument, such as a spatula, the required number of tablets is separated from the unmeasured quantity and moved across the tray I and over the rib I into the lower half 4 of the tubular chamber. The cover i2 is, of course, held in an open position during the counting of the tablets so that they may be readily moved into the chamber.

When the required number has been deposited in the lower half of the chamber, the coverthereof is closedand any remaining over-supply of tablets on the tray I is poured through the spout l1 back into the bulk stock container. This may, `oi' course, be done without losing any of the tablets in the chamber, which is' turned to a more or less upright position as an incident to the pouring of the over-supply of tablets back into the bulk container.

The cylindrical chamber is then held in a substantially vertical position, and the tablet content thereof leveled off as accurately as possible, and` the depth of tablets, as measured by the graduation I6, is noted and recorded on a suitable chart. Then when the proper size of container for packaging the specic number of tablets has been determined, the identifying number or other data of `such container is noted on the chart in association with the depth graduation for the tablets. Then, whenever a prescribed quantity of the same or other products fill the measuring chamber to the same depth mark, the pharmacist can readily determine from the chart, the proper size of container for packaging the product. For `each size of container carried in stock by the s mouth I8.

To more or less lock the cover I2 in closed position, a lug or boss I9 may be formed on the inside of the flange 6 and end closure 5, the boss being so formed as to overhang a portion of the semi-cylindrical cover I2. as best shown in Fig. 2. Similarly, the rib 'l may have its end portion 20 extended so'as to slightly overhang thc adjacent edge of the cover I2.

The materialvi'rom which the device is made may be a so-called plastic, metal or other material, having sucient resiliency to permit the cover to be disengaged from the locking overhangs when the cover is to be opened.' Stop means may be provided in connection with the hinged structure as shown at 2 I, or otherwise for ipporting the cover at any desired open posi- Various changes in the described structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a tray having a receptacle at one side thereof, said receptacle extending downwardly from the surface of said tray, a cover for said receptacle, said cover being hinged to said receptacle so as to'be capable` of being opened and'` closed, an end closure for one end of said receptacle, the otherv end thereof being open, and flanges extending upwardly from the side of said tray opposite to' the side having said receptacle and from one of the sides of the tray extending between saidv 2. A device of the class described, comprisingl a tray having a receptacle at one side thereof, said receptacle extending downwardly from the surface of said tray, a cover for said receptacle, said cover being hinged to said receptacle so as to be capable of being opened and closed, an end closure for one end of said receptacle, the other end thereof being open, flanges extending upwardly from the side of said tray opposite to the'side having said receptacle and from one of the sides of the tray extending between said receptacle and said first-mentioned flange, said anges being extended in cooperative relation from the tray to form a spout, and a shallow rib extending upwardly from said tray on the other side thereof between said receptacle and the first-mentioned flange.

3. A device of the classdescribed, comprising a tray having a receptacle atfone side thereof,

` said receptacle extending downwardly from the surface of said tray, a cover for said receptacle, said cover being hinged to said receptacle so as to be capable of being opened and closed, an end closure for one end of said receptacle, the other end thereof being open, flanges extending upwardly from the side of said tray opposite to the side having said receptacle and from one of the sides of the tray extending between said receptacle and said first-mentioned flange, said flanges being extended in cooperative relation from the tray to form a spout, and a shallow rib extending upwardly from the edge of the tray adjacent said receptacle, said rib having its top surface merging gradually into the top surfacev of the tray.

4.y A device of the class described, comprising a tray having a receptacle at one side thereof, said receptacle extending downwardly from the surface of said traya cover for saidreceptacle, said cover being hinged to said receptacle so as to be capable of being opened and closed, an end closure for one end of said receptacle, the other end thereof being open, flanges extending upwardly from the side of said tray opposite to the side having said receptacle and from one of the sides of the tray extending between said receptacle and said first-mentioned ange, said anges being extended in cooperative relation from the tray to form a spout, and said receptacle and cover having at their ends opposite to the closed end of the receptacle, mouth portions tapered to form a reduced area dispensing spout l for said receptacle.

5. A device, according to claim 4, wherein the tray is also provided with shallow ribs extending upwardly therefrom adjacent its edges opposite to its said flanged edges, the rib adjacent said receptacle edge having its top surface gradually merged with the surface of the tray.

6. A device, according to claim l, wherein graduated marking is applied to the device in such a manner as to facilitate recording the depth to which said receptacle is filled.

7. A device, according to claim 1. wherein said receptacle cover is made of transparent material and is provided with a graduated scale for facilitating recording of the extent to which said receptacle is iilled.

MACK R. FIELDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number Number Germany July 3. 1931 Certicate of Correction Patent No. 2,530,009 November 14, 1950 MACK R. FIELDS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specication of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 6, list of references cited, under UNITED STATES PATENTS add the following:

2,165,822 Vaclavik July 11, 1939 2,362,609 Blackman Nov. 14, 1944 and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oce. Signed and sealed this 23rd day of January, A. D. 1951.

, [sun] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oowmssz'oner of Patents. 

